In this period of great uncertainty, one thing you can count on is tax. Tax filing season kicks off on the 1st of September, and if you have earned an income during the 2019/2020 tax year, you may need to file a return. In response to COVID-19, the South African Revenue Service has tried to simplify the tax filing process for individual taxpayers and remove the need to visit branches. For the first time, a significant number of taxpayers will be auto-assessed throughout the month of August. Carrie Norden, tax manager at Allan Gray, joins us Kaya Bizz to tell us more. Kayafm · Kaya 959

As we wind up savings month, it is useful to pause and think about how we plan to approach our personal finances for the rest of the year. Now we know that we are notoriously bad at saving in South Africa. The recent pandemic has reminded us how important it is to put money aside for our various goals and build a culture of saving. Nomi Bodlani joins us to reflect on some of the common personal finance and investment mistakes we make when we’re just starting out and talk about how we can position ourselves for long-term financial success. Kayafm · Kaya 959

One thing the current pandemic has highlighted is that life doesn’t always go according to plan – and this often means we have to shell out money when we are least prepared for it. These unexpected expenses can have a significant and lasting impact on our long-term financial health. By building emergency reserves we can make sure that we are able to respond to life’s crises without compromising our financial standing or taking on expensive debt. Noluyolo Betela, client relationship manager at Allan Gray, joins KayaBizz to discuss the ins and outs of putting an emergency fund in place. Kayafm · Kaya 959

When last did you have a financial wellness check? With the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic still to come, remaining healthy is naturally top of mind. When prioritising our wellbeing, it is important to also pay some attention to our personal financial health. Tune in to Kaya Bizz podcasts on kayafm.co.za, to listen to Gugulethu Mfuphi as she speaks with Lettie Mzwinila from Allan Gray who shares some ideas to help you review your current circumstances and prepare for the tough months ahead. Brought to you by Allan Gray. Long-term investing. Allan Gray is an authorised financial services provider. Kayafm · Kaya 959

As we commemorate Youth Day and turn our focus to young South Africans, we are reminded that young people face numerous challenges as they lay the foundation for their careers, aim for financial freedom and map out the path to achieving their investment goals. COVID-19 has thrown many of us a curveball – affecting our job prospects, job security and forcing many of us to reassess our financial circumstances. Nomi Bodlani, head of Strategic Markets at Allan Gray, joins Kaya Bizz to talk about how we can approach getting started and staying the course through this challenging time. Kayafm · Kaya 959

With COVID-19 posing a real threat to our health, looking after our physical wellbeing is naturally top of mind. Given the far-reaching effects of the pandemic on our lives and livelihoods, it’s also critical to make sure that our personal finances are in good health. Lettie Mzwinila, Strategic Markets specialist at Allan Gray, joins Kaya Bizz to discuss the concept of financial wellbeing and share some ideas around how you can perform your own financial wellness check. Kayafm · Kaya 959

Many of us are feeling overwhelmed as COVID-19-related deaths, job losses and financial stress begin to have a real impact on our lives. The data is daunting, the headlines are overwhelmingly negative, and it seems as though things may get even worse before they get better. Given this reality, it may be hard to find many things to feel hopeful about, but scientific research suggests that optimism can play an important role in getting us through times of distress and paving the way for a better future. Lise-Mari Crafford, head of ManCo Distribution and Allan Gray, joins Kaya Bizz to tell us more. Kayafm · Kaya 959

If you have been keeping an eye on your investments, you may have noted some volatility in your portfolio over the last few weeks as the markets have reacted to our fears around coronavirus, ratings downgrades, Eskom and a host of other issues. While it may be tempting to cash in your investments and keep the money under your mattress, over the long term, this type of knee-jerk reaction can really cost you. Lettie Mzwinila Kayafm · Kaya 959

We often talk about how our emotions can impact our financial habits and investment decisions – so it is completely understandable that many of us will have experienced extreme emotional stress around the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic over the last few weeks. With a lockdown in place and a struggling economy, it feels like extreme uncertainty is our new reality. Allan Gray’s Mthobisi Mthimkhulu joins us to talk about how we can cope with the trauma of the COVID-19 crisis. Kayafm · Kaya 959

South Africa faces a daunting future. Many companies are expected to experience economic hardship and may even have to close their doors as an unfortunate consequence of this difficult economic time. This will ultimately force many businesses to let employees go. Besides the emotional turmoil that employees face when they lose their jobs, many don’t receive the assurance that their pensions are safe. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority recently warned that many distressed employers will default on their employees’ contributions to retirement funds. Saleem Sonday, head of Group Savings and Investments at Allan Gray, joins us to shed some light on employee rights and responsibilities when it comes to retirement savings. Kayafm · Kaya 959